Nikon 50 mm f/1.8D

Mindcrime · 27-09-2006, 1:38 PM

I wanna try and do some portrait photos of my wife and a wedding I'm off to next month. I've seen a Nikon 50mm f/1.8d for $119us,a nd I was thinking of getting this when I pop over to New Hampshire for the wedding.

So, is this a good enough lens and price for doing head shots, portraits?

Scott_Mac · 27-09-2006, 1:58 PM

Yes, it's excellent... though it's designed primarily for use on film cameras so you won't be able to auto focus on a D-SLR and the sensor will make it more like a 72mm lens.

Please ignore all of that if it's for a film camera

Mindcrime · 27-09-2006, 2:08 PM

It'll be used on my D50, and the auto-focus won't be much of a problem. The price looks very good so it won't be a huge waste of money if I don't get along with the lens.

Magslad · 27-09-2006, 5:39 PM

Quote:

Yes, it's excellent... though it's designed primarily for use on film cameras so you won't be able to auto focus on a D-SLR

This isn't necessarily correct. If the lens is new (which the price would indicate it could be) it will almost certainly be the 50mm f/1.8D AF, which will be able to autofocus on your D50. If it is second hand, then look for a new one as you should be able to get it at about the price you stated.

beachy · 27-09-2006, 6:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Magslad

This isn't necessarily correct. If the lens is new (which the price would indicate it could be) it will almost certainly be the 50mm f/1.8D AF, which will be able to autofocus on your D50. If it is second hand, then look for a new one as you should be able to get it at about the price you stated.

yes magslad is spot on here, i have the 50mm f/1.8d AF and it is able to autofocus on my D50 no problem, i picked mine up for about £90 but i know it,s available from www.onestop-digital.com for £69.99 great lens for the price even at 90 quid

PaulBoy · 27-09-2006, 6:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mindcrime

I wanna try and do some portrait photos of my wife and a wedding I'm off to next month. I've seen a Nikon 50mm f/1.8d for $119us,a nd I was thinking of getting this when I pop over to New Hampshire for the wedding.

So, is this a good enough lens and price for doing head shots, portraits?

The lens is certainly good enough with its f1.8 etc but I would have thought you'd have to be up quite close with only 50mm? - hopefully some of the guys here (like Radiohead or Bristol Pete) who do weddings & portraits etc will answer this but I'd have thought something like 80mm or 105mm would put you at a more "comfortable" distance - of course that'd make the lens more expensive (?)
Paul

Radiohead · 27-09-2006, 6:56 PM

It's a nice lens and certainly excellent value but it wouldn't be my first choice for portrait work. If you can afford it the 85/1.4 or 105DC are stunning and the 85/1.8 is also a creacking lens. All three have far better OOF rendition than the 50/1.8 (which has pretty ugly bokeh IMHO).

Mindcrime · 27-09-2006, 7:09 PM

Cheers for that Radiohead. Just looked at the prices for the 85/1.8 and it's a little out my price range for now. I don't think the missus would be happy me spending over $500 on a lens. And as for the 85/1.4, well, that's over $1500

I think I'll just get the cheaper 50/1.8 and keep using my kits lenses for now.

SSB · 27-09-2006, 8:29 PM

The 50mm is a nice little lens - sharp, contrasty and handy in low light situations. The AF isn't monster fast but it's effective and the build is cheap (no surprise) but for the money I really don't think you can complain. Although its not an ideal focal length for portraits, if you get on well with your subjects it's workable.

Another relatively inexpensive option would be something like the Tamron 90mm macro, which is would give you a nice fast portrait lens (a bit longer so you don't have to get so close!) and of course a very sharp macro lens to take pics of ... erm, close up things.

Mindcrime · 27-09-2006, 8:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SSB

Another relatively inexpensive option would be something like the Tamron 90mm macro, which is would give you a nice fast portrait lens (a bit longer so you don't have to get so close!) and of course a very sharp macro lens to take pics of ... erm, close up things.

Sadly, it ain't that inexpensive over here. For some reason lenses are really expensive, as I showed before with the 2 suggested Nikon lenses. The Tamron 90mm would cost me $750. I guess I'll have to give up on the idea of having a nice portrait lens for now

SSB · 27-09-2006, 8:57 PM

http://cgi.ebay.ca/Tamron-AF-90mm-f-...QQcmdZViewItem

That's less than $400 CAD ...

Magslad · 27-09-2006, 11:12 PM

Quote:

Another relatively inexpensive option would be something like the Tamron 90mm macro, which is would give you a nice fast portrait lens (a bit longer so you don't have to get so close!) and of course a very sharp macro lens to take pics of ... erm, close up things

You don't have this lens by any chance do you SSB? Have read some good reviews of it, and was thinking of picking one up when I go on hols next week, but would always be good to get some feedback from anyone who has the lens before I go and splash the cash.

Cheers

SSB · 28-09-2006, 7:43 AM

I don't, but a friend has it and he's been shooting some portraits with it of late ...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/johndavis0/sets/874941/

... or there are pools on flickr full of Tamron 90mm shots

http://www.flickr.com/groups/tamronsp90/pool/